THE Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Sulu following the attack staged by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) at the Parang Municipal Police Station over the weekend.
PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said the SAF will take part in the conduct of hot pursuit operations against the attackers.
"I directed the PRO-BAR (Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region) to launch hot pursuit operations, and investigation in coordination with our counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to bring the suspects to justice," he said.
Two policemen, Patrolman Arjun Putalan and Police Corporal Mudar Salamat, were killed when the armed men opened fire at the police station at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.
Two other police officers, Executive Master Sergeant Hamid Saribbon and Staff Master Sergeant Harold Nieva, were wounded.
PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said the policemen were outnumbered by the suspects, who used high powered firearms during the attack.
He said the policemen were able to return fire and the gun fight lasted for about 30 minutes.
The attackers fled towards the direction of Indanan, Sulu. The Abu Sayyaf has yet to take responsibility for the attack.
Banac said Gamboa condemned the attack and ordered the local police to ensure assistance to the bereaved families and the wounded cops.
“’Yung mga namatay nating kasama ay bibigyan ng financial assistance, benefits... hindi lamang sa PNP meron din na mangagaling sa presidential social fund at lahat ng kanilang mga benepisyo ay ibibigay para sa kanilang pamilya,” he said.
The PNP also alerted all its units in the said region to prevent such incidents from happening again.
It was the latest attack against the police and military forces in Sulu.
On April 17, 11 soldiers were killed while 14 others were wounded in encounters between army troops and around 40 ASG members in Patikul Sulu.
In 2019, three suicide bombings occurred in the southern part of the country which claimed dozens of lives.
The deadliest attack staged by the terrorist group in the said province was the suicide bombing perpetrated by a foreign couple in Jolo Cathedral on January 7, 2019, where at least 23 people, mostly civilians, were killed while 109 others were injured.
On July 31 of the same year, at least 10 people were killed and nine others were wounded in a van explosion in Lamitan City in Basilan.
Also killed during the incident was the alleged Moroccan driver of the van who detonated the IED he was carrying inside the vehicle when he was intercepted in a military checkpoint.
On September 8, 2019, eight persons, including three soldiers were killed in an attack staged by two suicide bombers, including a Filipino citizen in a military command post in Indanan, Sulu.
Sulu, Jolo has been tagged as a stronghold of the militant Islamist ASG since it was formed in 1990s. (SunStar Philippines)